WiFi is an Essential Element in the Future of connectivity

The role of the 5G , the next generation of mobile communications, in the expansion of the Internet of Things and the popularization of connectivity has been discussed at length . Now, a document from the Wi-Fi Alliance wants to reclaim the role of this technology , whose global value is already at 1.96 trillion dollars. The Next Generation Wi-Fi: The future of connectivity whitepaper explores the possibilities of extending the wireless network to cover advanced use cases, without losing its strengths. Also, advance how this scenario will change with the arrival of Wi-Fi 6 .

According to the study, WiFi technology will increase its capacity and speed and reduce latency , optimal characteristics for the use of augmented reality tools, virtual reality video UHD or for the deployment of all kinds of IoT ecosystems. Among its strengths is the ability to achieve affordable performance; the ease of use; the fact that it is a network with self-deployment; long-term compatibility and spectrum operation functionality without a license. For Edgar Figueroa, the CEO and president of the alliance, the technology shows a solid trajectory and a commitment to the basic competencies “that will continue to provide critical mission connectivity and will carry most of the data traffic in the world”.

WiFi : Future of Connectivity

The arrival of Wi-Fi 6, predicts the document, will occur without major disruptions or investments , but it will be a gradual transition, with compatibility with previous versions to support legacy devices and make it easier for users to update devices of the new standard according to they want it. It will not be necessary to invest significantly in infrastructure, but it will be noted the improvement in performance and capacity. On how WiFi technology will welcome the appearance of 5G , which is expected to begin its deployment in 2019, the report predicts a situation of complementary between the two communication networks.

The first and most notable feature of the standard is that it is designed to work in today’s increasingly congested radio environments . It is compatible with multi-user technology of multiple inputs and outputs (MU-MIMO), which means that a given access point can handle the traffic of up to eight users at the same time and at the same speed. The previous generation of access points still divide their attention and bandwidth between simultaneous users.

Even better is Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), a technology borrowed from the wireless world with medium license handled by operators. What it does is subdivide each of the available independent channels into a given access point by an additional factor of four, which means less slow down for the access points that serve a couple of dozens of clients at the same time.

In short, beyond being faster than previous versions of WiFi, Wi-Fi 6 will have more capacity to handle the growing density of customers present in modern IT . Whether it’s more and more connected office spaces, with smart TVs and multiple clients per employee, or IoT, with connected devices of any kind, Wi-Fi 6 is well suited to meet those demands.